What's next after Obama win? BY CHRIS VARMECKY STAFF WRITER OVSO34@PSU.EDU Progressives, secularists, and those just completely dismayed with the Bush administration can now breathe a much-anticipated sigh of relief. As the prophetic oracle, the New Mexico Sun News, correctly predicted, Barrack Obama trounced the competition and won the 2008 United States Presidential Election handily. After an interminably long two year odyssey amidst the murky underbelly of the political world, Obama managed to enthrall the electorate and win their backing with a rhetorical platform synonymous with a single word: change. The conditions were perfect: 9 President s Corner The Student Government Association is provided space in each issue of The Capital Times for communicating with the Penn State Harrisburg student body. Neither the SGA • president nor vice president chose to utilize the space and opportunity for this issue. ANTONIOS AVRAMIDLS SGA PRESIDENT AWASOIBOPSU.EDU an American public utterly disenchanted with the failures and shortcomings of an ineffective government; the collapse of worldwide financial markets and the subsequent bailout by outraged taxpayers; the unpopularity of the war in Iraq (which is basically won, barring an Obama screwup) compounded by the resurgence of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan; and the ever growing misconception that America is on the brink of a depression, comparable to that of the 19305. Charismatic, calculated, and cool-handed, Obama seized upon the fragile psyche of the American people, and masqueraded the word change as a cure-all to blanket the myriad of society's ills. It helped that McCain was a horrible candidate who failed to tap into the widespread anger of the slighted American people. Granted, he would've been a strong commander-in-chief, un swayed by ideology and special interests. However, his inability to run an effective campaign and to communicate his ideas for the middle class ultimately led to his defeat. In addition to a mismanaged campaign, McCain was plagued by his mediocre fundraising efforts, an unfortunate byproduct of his own doing, by the way. McCain's joint venture to sure up unsavory campaign fund- raising practices with Senator Russ Feingold in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 substantially hampered his ability to compete with Obarna's unprecedented contributions. Ironic and somewhat comical, McCain's crusade to eliminate soft money quite possibly disqualified him from becoming our next president. WithObama'shistoricpresidential win, the far left feels emboldened and conservatives are scrambling to revamp the tried and true conservative message in order to address present-day problems like health care, education, and energy independence. What remains to be seen, however, is in what manner will Obama govern, given that he is beholden to far left interests. And how can Republicans modernize the conservative message to appeal to voters in 2010. The Daily Kos and the Moveon. org crowd are going to demand radical change in part because their propaganda and fundraising efforts helped catapult Obama into the White House. Consider the far left leadership in the House and Senate i.e. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi with the possibility of a filibuster proof 60 seat-majority in the Senate, pending on three races still up in the air; Obama could govern without any real checks or Editor's note balances, implementing a hard left agenda into law. Obama could govern as far-left president, as his past associations, voting record, and proposed policies suggest. However, this would be presumptuously stupid of him. Despite the left's integral role in getting Obama elected, it's not the lower Manhattan elites that are in jeopardy of being alienated. Moderates and independents (those who don't exactly subscribe to unabashed liberal philosophy) are the one's Obama has to worry about losing. The North Carolinian voters who turned a solid red state into an Obama nation, Reagan Democrats in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, and Virginians of traditional upbringing; all invested their hope and faith in a man who seemed to transcend racial attitudes, political ideology, and petty partisan politics. These are the people that might be soured by the potential policies of an Obama presidency. Unfortunately, it's too early to speculate about such things. A scenario in which America is in the midst of a deep recession with no end in sight, only exasperated by high taxation, more regulation, and frivolous government spending, has the possibility of turning 2010 into quite be hospitable environment for Republicans. Republicans need to fine-tune the triumphant, conservative values of Reagan that made every American feel like every day was the Fourth of July (well except for highly cynical liberals who despise nationalism). Emerging leaders in the Republican Party will most likely rise out of obscurity, much like Obama. There is no question that the pool is deep with talent. Governors of traditionally red states have the opportunity to show mainstream America conservative ideals in action and the success they achieve. Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma, although a Democrat, has a bustling state economy due to low business tax rates and control government spending. Similarly, Mitch Daniels of Indiana R has seen 100,000 jobs created since he took office as governor. It's going to be the Sarah Palin's and the Bobby Jindal's of the political landscape that will put a face on conservative ideals. If Republicans get their act together and return a to the old Reagan rhetoric that mesmerized America in the 1980 s while combining that with sensible policies loyal to conservatism, 2010 can be quite the lucrative year for Republicans in the House and Senate. However, it will be this small state governors that rise to leadership in the 2012 presidential election. NATHANIEL HEZEKIAH SGA VICE PRESIDENT NZHIIIOPSU.EDU
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